2004 MINI Cooper

Pros: Spot-on styling, quick steering, nimble handling, fun "anti-SUV" character.
Cons: Lazy throttle response, ropy shifter, harsh ride, cheap and flimsy interior plastics, poor ergonomics.

My Experience I've wanted to review the new BMW-designed, English-built MINI for quite some time now, but it's not easy! The limited dealer network and high demand give MINI dealers little incentive to offer test drives. Fortunately, I found a ...

Pros: Styling, character, quick steering, balanced handling
Cons: Low RPM power, heavy steering, awful shifters, ride, rear seat and cargo space, interior materials

Two years I test drove a MINI Cooper S and was less than impressed. The car lacked the light, tossable feel and razor-sharp steering I expected from such a diminutive car. But as I noted then that test drive was not performed in the best conditions. I ...

Pros: Great ride, fun to drive, technologically advanced, turns heads,
Cons: Safety and size

It has been a year or so since I last squeezed into a Mini Cooper and I had forgotten how small they were. It it one thing to see a Mini on the street, but to get in one you really get the feeling that you are venturing into one of your kid's toy cars. ...

Pros: Quick and precise steering and incredible go-kart handling
Cons: Power seats not offered as options and styling not for everyone

*** I UPDATED THE REVIEW BASED ON RECENT DRIVING EXPERIENCE *** I sold my 2002 Audi A4 1.8T (see my review in ht tp://www.epinions.com/content_ 63843503748) to a relative who needed a car and I bought a 2004 black ...

Pros: Handling, styling, fun factor
Cons: Hard ride, Weird dash, tight interior, dubious English quality, pricing

The return of this classic British marquee comes with some snappy advertising promising that the SUV backlash starts now. Americans vote with their wallets so when gas prices started jumping past $2.00 a gallon in the Los Angeles area, I decided to have ...

Pros: The styling of course! BMW-massaged chassis
Cons: Somewhat cramped interior; Econocar engine

Anyone who has seen the movie The Italian Job (either the original or the new one), will remember seeing the original Mini. This was a little shoebox with wheels introduced in 1951 in England (production ran until 1992). Over the years, the Mini was ...

Pros: -Razor Sharp Handling -Very Fast Acceleration
Cons: -Small Intercooler -Terrible Stock Intake

Review Section: *Build: The Mini Cooper is built at the U.K. based Range Rover factor but is owned and designed by BMW. The John Cooper Works package is built in England and sent to individual BMW dealers for install. The JCW is covered under the 4 year ...

Pros: affordable, cute, fun to drive, unique, a smile grabber
Cons: very few dealerships, waiting time, prone to vandals :(

I have owned my MINI Cooper S for about 9 months now. I see that some very detailed and specific reviews have been written about the car's specs and data, so I'm just here to tell you about the actual driving experience. I fell in LOVE with this car ...

Pros: Tossable (highly!), fun, turns heads, gets lots of looks.
Cons: Occasional rough idle (described in review), certainly built for 2, maybe 3, but not 4.

(This review was last updated July 3rd, 2004.) I own a black and white 5-spd 2004 MINI Cooper (base model). We bought it on the 30th of January and as of today, May 25th, it has about 6,300 miles on it. It has Leatherette, the chrome options, premium ...

Pros: TOO MANY to list!
Cons: small size- not great for fat people like me, no spare (run flat tires)

The MINI COOPER S is the coolest car on the planet! I'm getting right to the point. MSRP is a very generous number that most dealer's won't budge from because it is still being limited in imports. Don't expect that you can talk them down because you ...

Pros: Steering, handling, grip, minimal body roll, excellent brakes, clutch feel, looks
Cons: Average engine, poor rear legroom, small boot, reverse gear

I must start by saying that I have never considered buying a new car before, especially not a German car (because of the price premiums over other makes), and have never been particularly a 'petrol head'. Yet I've owned my brand new BMW Mini Cooper for ...

Pros: Awsome handling, supercharge, Mini BMW
Cons: small back seat - extroverted styling (if you don't like that)

Note: This car will be used strictly as a weekend toy for 2 people and/or occasional commuting for 1 person. Above note is important as it is too small to be considered as primary mode of transportation for most people (good for 2 people, but no ...

Pros: Fun and fast to drive, CUTE!
Cons: Reliability disappointing, poor designs at certain spots.

I've had my 2004 Mini Cooper for a year now, and recently surpasses 10k miles. I love this car, it is the perfect vehicle for new york. Parking is a breeze, and cornering and acceleration is a blast. I got the car with most of the packages, which ...

Pros: Awesome styling, great gas mileage, our service has been absolutely fine, reliable, fun to drive.
Cons: It will only get better with age.

I have read several of the reviews on the Mini Cooper and although the car is not perfect, it is far above most American cars that lack the BMW technology and engineering. We purchased a mini for my son and it has been mostly great. It has ...

Pros: Handling, Harmon Kardon, Mileage, Bmw nametag, price.
Cons: Cup holders, small interior (for some people), and the friggin 4 months long waiting period.

Since there are many reviews describing the Mini in detail, I'm just going to highlight on it's main points. No it's no u luxury car (even though it's interior is close to that of a 3 or 5 series, but way smaller). You will fall in love with this car ...

Pros: Great styling, handling, personality. Fun to drive, good value.
Cons: Cheap interior, loud interior cabin, flimsy shifter can be a rough starter (known issue).

The exterior styling of this car is great. The style options are customization choices make it real fun and easy to give the car it's own personality. The interior however has much to be desired.
I dont care for the cheap trim, way to much plastic and "snap-in" parts. The dials are interesting, I am still getting used to them. The sound system is terrible, I tore out what was there and put my own custom system. Which you should always do if you are an audiophile. I like the handling of the car, although the shifter sucks. The steering is a bit heavy, but I am a pretty strong guy so I don't mind it at all. It is a 2 passenger car, unless you have really small friends to put in the back.

Pros: Fun, peppy, economical.
Cons: Significant trouble getting chronic mechanical problems fixed.

Let's get this out of the way: The Mini Cooper is cool, economical and fun. It also has some serious mechanical issues.
Less than six months after purchasing my Mini Cooper automatic, a rod in the steering column broke. Two weeks after that, the thermometer that monitors the cars coolant system broke.
Ok, new cars can have bugs. HOWEVER, it took four weeks to schedule a repair. Apparently, demand for the car has swamped service technicians. After a cancellation, I was able to get my car into the shop only 3 weeks after the thermometer broke.
Of course, the dealership did not have the part for the steering column which, according to the Long Beach BMW technician, is a perennial problem with the Mini. "We've had to repair dozens of the steering wheels," he told me. Perhaps there aren't enough complaints yet to warrant a recall, but consider this a warning.
After a week, the part came in, the car is back, and I'm enjoying the road again.
Make no mistake: There are fewer fun cars on the road. But be prepared for -- and patient with -- the mechanical issues you will undoubtedly face.

Pros: relatively cheap for something created by BMW, supercharger(always a pro), fun to drive
Cons: little storage space, impractical for some, likely lose a collision with many of todays SUV's

So I have to admit that I may have had the most fun driving this car then I have ever had in my life (possibly because i'm driving a '91 dodge with 98hp) The mini cooper S can be driven by most people, even though people over 6'0 may have a very uncomfortable rear passenger but lets face it, if you are driving, who cares about the rear passenger. I am a short guy and with me driving I had a friend of mine who is 6'2" actually sit comfortably in the back. The supercharger rocks. It makes the car fly. It's fast, comfortable, handles great, and seems to be an all-around fun ride. MINI offers all service for 3 years on the car and the 2005 model gets a boast to 168hp.

Pros: Looks, Handling, Interior, FUN, FUN, FUN
Cons: Slightly choppy ride when new, no auto-up feature on windows, not sure about build quality.

I have wanted a MINI Cooper since seeing them in magazines nearly 2 years ago. I finally have one. What a fantastic car! It has great looks and it is a street legal go-cart. The steering is very direct, and meaty. There is a "seat of the pants" sensation of every road surface and curve. I have just passed Mini's 1250 mile break-in period. What a difference! The shocks and springs are now quite a bit more settled than they were new, and the engine keeps getting sweeter and sweeter. FUN! I have had to take the car back to the dealer to have the rear hatch lubricated. It rattled slightly. The mechanism was not lubricated enough. The power window switches deserve a auto-up feature, at least on the driver's side.

(UPDATE)
I had the opportunity (or mis-fortune?) of seeing the DSC in action this weekend. I was on a wet/muddy corner. I would have been able to correct for myself (many years in a Miata teaches how to correct for slight oversteer) but the DSC did it for me. The add-on cup-holder is poor. It gets in the way of the passenger seat for loading the rear seat.

Pros: smooth , good response from a small motor, good MPG
Cons: none

Well i see many are not satisfied with the Mini. I own one and have ordered an 05'. This is a sports car made by BMW it drives like a sports car, it handle's like a sports car....it looks like a sports car therefore it must be a sports car...steering is heavy YES for handling reasons...ride is hard YES for cornering at 50MPH with little drift...try that in your SUV. I've had it up to 137MPH and smooooth is the only word. I have the turbo S..33.6MPG 900 miles on the car (bought it 8/8/04 $26,266.) prem and sport pkg in addition to the Harmon Karden sound sys.If you want a sports car that turns heads and that the girls love then this is for you. If you want a smooth ride loose steering,a big trunk and good back seats then i recommend the Lexus.